The Redskins Rule: Presidential Election To Be Decided On NFL Sunday


After months on the campaign trail, dozens of political ads, and millions of dollars, the Presidential election all comes down to this: A football game. According to the Redskins rule, the next president of the United States will be decided this weekend when the Washington Redskins take the field against the Carolina Panthers.

Yep, it all comes down to football.

Fans of Obama fans should be rooting for a Redskins victory on Sunday and fans of Romney should be rooting for a loss. According to the Washington Post, the NFL team has been successfully predicting the outcome of the presidential election since 1940. A win for the Redskins means that the incumbent party wins the election and a loss means that the non-incumbent will win.

The only exception to the Redskins rule came in 2004 when the team lost to Green Bay but George W. Bush still won the election.

So who’s going to be the next president of the United States? According to Bleacher Report, the Washington Redskins are favored by three points.

Here’s a look at how the Redskins rule has predicted the presidential election since 1940.

2012 Obama vs. Romney – Redskins vs. Carolina Panthers (TBD)
2008 Obama defeats McCain – Redskins beat Pittsburgh Steelers
2004 Bush defeats Kerry – Redskins lose to Green Bay Packers (exception to the Redskins rule)
2000 Bush defeats Gore – Redskins defeat Tennessee Titans
1996 Clinton defeats Dole – Redskins beat Indianapolis Colts
1992 Clinton defeats Bush – Redskins lose to New York Giants
1988 Bush defeats Dukakis – Redskins beat New Orleans Saints
1984 Reagan defeats Mondale – Redskins defeat Atlanta Falcons
1980 Reagan defeats Carter – Redskins lose Minnesota Vikings
1976 Carter defeats Ford – Redskins lose Dallas Cowboys
1972 Nixon defeats McGovern – Redskins beat Dallas Cowboys
1968 Nixon defeats Humphrey – Redskins lose to New York Giants
1964 Johnson defeats Goldwater – Redskins beat Chicago Bears
1960 Kennedy defeats Nixon – Redskins lose to Cleveland Browns
1956 Eisenhower defeats Stevenson – Redskins beat Cleveland Browns
1952 Eisenhower defeats Stevenson – Redskins lose to Pittsburgh Steelers
1948 Truman defeats Dewey – Redskins beat Boston Yanks
1944 Roosevelt defeats Dewey – Redskins beat Cleveland Rams
1940 Roosevelt defeats Willkie – Redskins beat Pittsburgh Steelers

Do you think there’s any truth to the Redskins rule? Who are you rooting for this Sunday?

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